Critical analysis and determination of the solubility limit of carbon in ferrite

Abstract

In spite of an extensive bibliography available, the solubility limit of carbon in ferrite is still uncertain (between 50 and 100 ppm at 600°C for example), and this is not sufficient for the improvement of steel processing. Therefore we have tried to establish as accurately as possible the solubility of carbon between 500 and 750°C in a low carbon aluminium killed steel using a thermoelectric power protocol, which enables to calculate the amount of free interstitials in a ferritic matrix from the amount of interstitials that segregate on dislocations after strain. The solubility limit has been determined at ± 2 ppm between 550 and 730°C, and described by the relation: C(%wt) = 6.63 exp(-11.8 kcal/mol/RT). At a time when metallurgical phenomena are more and more simulated, we believe that a similar procedure should be used for other experimental studies providing basic data for modelling.